Biblical Perspective Of Family
John Offutt
Part of Sermon Notes
January 29, 2024

Biblical Perspective Of Family

Scripture: Col. 3:18-21

Gen. 2:18-23 (NIV)
18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” 19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman, for she was taken out of man.”

1. A Word to Wives (vs. 18)

Col. 3:18 (NASB 1995) Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

  • Define = “submission” = “to come under rank or authority”

Eph. 5:22 (NASB 1995) Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

  • Submission is not possessive.
  • Submission is not inferior.
  • Submission is not absolute.

2. A Word to Husbands (vs. 19)

Col. 3:19 (NASB 1995) Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

Eph. 5:25 (NASB 1995) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

  • Love is intentional (not emotional or sensual)
  • Love is sacrificial (not selfish)
  • Love is purifying (not bitter or manipulative)

I Peter 3:7 (CSB) You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

3. A Word to Children (vs. 20)

Col. 3:20 (NASB 1995) Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

  • Define = “children” = “any child living in the home under parental guidance”

Eph. 6:1 (NLT) Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.

Ex. 20:12 (CSB) Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

4. A Word to Parents (vs. 21)

Col. 3:21 (NASB 1995) Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

  • Define “exasperate” = “to stir up or provoke”
  • Define = “lose heart” = “without courage or spirit”

How do parents “exasperate” their children?

  • By overprotection = lack of trust
  • By showing favoritism = lack of acceptance
  • By setting unrealistic goals = lack of worth
  • By failing to show affection = lack of love
  • By neglecting standards & boundaries = lack of security

Eph. 6:4 (NLT) Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Deut. 6:5-9 (NIV) 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

LifeSource Community Church - January 28, 2024